The
black crappie,
pictured above, is more common and widely distributed in Minnesota than
its close relative the
white crappie.
Though the two species are very similar in appearance, the black crappie,
as its name would imply, is generally darker in color than the white crappie.
The surest way to tell the two species apart, however, is to count the spines
in the dorsal fin. The black crappie has seven or eight spines while the
white crappie has only five or six
(MN DNR,
2014). The Minnesota state record for black crappie is 5 pounds,
0 ounces, and the state record for white crappie is 3 pounds, 4 ounces
(MN DNR,2014)
. Most crappies caught and kept by Minnesota anglers range in weight from
one-half to three-fourths of a pound.